In case you didn’t know, this year I have had a very…unique teaching job. I work for a company that provides Title One services to non-public schools in Baltimore City. So, basically, I’m a Math and Reading resource teacher in a private school. I just don’t work for the school, I work for a private company. It’s been quite a blast and I hope I’ll be able to do it for many years to come (unfortunately, funding plays a large role in my job, so I have to wait and see…which totally stinks…) I also took on an after school tutoring-type job this year in a Baltimore City Public School…now talk about a challenge! This being said, I have realized, this year more so than ever, that being a teacher is not just about teaching. I’ve always loved the school environment. As a kid, I loved going to school everyday, and I think that’s a big reason why I chose to become a teacher (having summer’s off definitely makes it more appealing as well…). Also, I have a pretty vast array of random knowledge stored away in my way cluttered brain. I’m not saying that I’m really smart or anything, I just know more than my share of junk and I have always figured that was another reason I became a teacher, to share what I know. This year has challenged both of these ideas. I have come to the realization that being a teacher is definitely not just about relaying important factual information to today’s youth. It’s about being a sounding board for children who are struggling through life, giving that support that is needed to feel confident and self-assured, sharing advice with those who are desperate for direction…Many of today’s inner city children seem to be growing up with a chip on their shoulders, living life as if everyone and everything is against them. I have had countless “mini-counseling sessions” with middle schoolers who haven’t a clue. One of these sessions occurred with a young man who is about to turn 15. He’s finishing up the eighth grade and is heading on to high school next year (only by the grace of God and because his teachers are ready for him to move on…). Now, I don’t say this about every student, but this guy has something special. He’s an incredibly talented actor, just absolutely hilarious, and he’s a good athlete as well…but here’s the problem, I’ve never seen an angrier kid in my life. One day in class, I literally thought he was going to hurt us all. It was like a switch was flipped inside him and he turned into a completely different person. I have never seen anything like this before; it was crazy. I wasn’t quite sure what to do, I honestly thought he was going to kill this other kid (who has Aspberger’s and really has no coping mechanisms at all, but that‘s a whole different story…). So here I am, with a room full of eighth graders, one who is about to tear someone to shreds and another who is crying so hard that I’m not sure he’ll ever be able to stop…uh oh. Long story short, I was able to eventually diffuse the situation and sent all of the students on to the next class, with the exception of the kid who was fuming with rage. I sat down and talked to him for almost an hour. He poured his heart out about how he didn’t understand why he flips out like that, and explained that he was honestly scared to death that he would hurt someone one day. So there’s an eighth grade boy for you, and the middle school girls…oh my…what a mess! They are looking for attention so urgently from boys that it is sickening. Fortunately, I was able to actually share with some of the girls how I “waited for marriage” and that I was very glad I did. I doubt it will really change their minds about things, but at least I put in my two cents worth, right? The second graders I worked with in the public school after school were so desperate for attention, they would do anything to get it, including behaving like…animals…Any kind of attention, no matter positive or negative, was fine with them. All they really wanted was someone to make them feel special. Each day, no matter how hard it was to deal with inappropriate behavior, I knew it would be worth it. The hugs and “I love you’s” alone made it all worth while. So, did I truly realize that when I became a teacher, I was also taking on the role of mentor, counselor, encourager, and in some cases, proxy-parent? Nope, not at all, but I love every aspect of working with children and wouldn’t have it any other way…

~Blevins - out!

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**Disclaimer:

This blog is filled with the thoughts of Jennifer Blevins. They are in no way a reflection of her family or those surrounding her. Although most entries are re-read prior to posting, they are not done in a word document. This means that spelling mistakes will abound and most likely grammatical errors as well. Sometimes Jennifer does not feel like re-reading or taking the time to write things correctly...she writes like she speaks. Please do not judge Mrs. Blevins' teaching abilities or her capacity to teach Language Arts based on the content of this blog.